Dmitry and Maria Kalyuzhny, who moved two years ago from St. Petersburg, have now settled in the village of Chyrpykty, located in the Issyk-Kul region.
The couple has visited many picturesque places along the shores of Issyk-Kul and, inspired by the beauty of the surrounding nature, decided to start organizing tourist routes for travelers.
They now offer unique tours in the jewel of Kyrgyzstan, creating custom routes for both individual and group tourists.
“Our first acquaintance with this beautiful place happened when we went on a sports hike of the 3rd category of difficulty along the Teskey-Ala-Too ridge, which lasted almost three weeks. As a result, we decided to stay. We found a house in Chyrpykty, started our own farm, and we have a cat and a dog. We really like it here. We are the only Russian family in the village, but the neighbors are always ready to help, and we quickly felt at home. Chyrpykty is distinguished by clean air and magnificent nature, which makes us very happy,” shares Maria.
Their tourist activities primarily focus on travelers from the CIS countries.
“Currently, we are organizing tours around Issyk-Kul, welcoming guests in Bishkek, and introducing them to the culture and traditions of Kyrgyzstan, as well as the peculiarities of nomadic life. We showcase the diversity of natural landscapes, from canyons that resemble a Martian landscape to green valleys. Our 7-day tour includes accommodation, meals, and workshops from local artisans,” adds Maria Kalyuzhnaya.
This young family is actively contributing to the development of tourism in Kyrgyzstan, including the sports segment.
“Sports tourism is a separate type of sport with its own rules. In Kyrgyzstan, it is gaining popularity again, although its heyday was during the Soviet era,” notes Maria.
There are specific criteria by which hikes are classified by levels of difficulty (there are a total of six categories, with the first being the easiest and the sixth being the most difficult). This requires strict discipline. Sports tourism has much in common with mountaineering, but unlike mountaineering, which aims to reach the summit, the main goal in sports tourism is to complete the route. For this, it is necessary to skillfully use special tools such as ropes, ice drills, and crampons. We traverse challenging passes, glaciers, and peaks, which requires careful preparation and training. Anyone wishing to participate in such a hike cannot do so without proper preparation,” Maria explains.
She also notes that many tourists, having seen the local mountains once, strive to return again.
“Everyone has different preferences: some are attracted to canyons (for example, Ak-Sai and Kok-Mainok), while others prefer valleys like Altyn-Arashan. Many guests express a desire to come back,” shares Maria.
In addition to tourism, the family engages in handicrafts. They have transformed an old shed into a workshop.
“In winter, we create wooden products. We have lamps, lights, bowls, and souvenirs. We collect branches during our travels, both here and abroad. First, they are dried, and then they are turned into products. This year, we participated in winter fairs in Karakol for the first time,” Maria recounts.
Prices for the products range from 300 to 5000 soms.
Maria Kalyuzhnaya was born in 1988 in the Saratov region of Russia and is an economist by profession. Dmitry, born in 1989, previously worked in equipment repair. Both spouses are also qualified as “sports tourism instructors with the right to teach.”
In the Issyk-Kul region, the development of a safe ecosystem that promotes the free habitation of wild animals and birds is once again being observed. In the mountainous areas, an increase in the...
Medina from Issyk-Kul: life in Naples, where everyone greets each other with the word "hello". Turmush — The heroine of our section "Our People Abroad" is Medina Bekturova, who...
In the Tyup district of the Issyk-Kul region, the opening of a new school building in the village of Intymak took place with the online participation of the president. The opening occurred on...
As the New Year holidays approach, law enforcement agencies in the Issyk-Kul region organized a garrison drill aimed at maintaining public order and ensuring road safety for citizens. This event was...
In the village of Dolon, located in the Tyup district of the Issyk-Kul region, traditional winter recreation has begun, reports Turmush correspondent. Every year during the cold season, Lake Dolon...
Nurkamal Turdumambetova, a resident of the village of Shor-Bulak in the Ton district of the Issyk-Kul region, found her passion in handicrafts after retiring, continuing the traditions of Kyrgyz...
At the IV People's Kurultai, delegate from the Issyk-Kul region, Salamat Duyshkeyev, expressed his opinion on the role of teachers in raising children on December 25. Duyshkeyev emphasized that...
The regional news outlet Turmush continues to present the column "Жеңеке," where we share stories about the lives of young brides and experienced daughters-in-law. Our goal is to highlight...
In the Issyk-Kul region, an investigation has been initiated regarding the forcible abduction of a foreign citizen. A video has surfaced on the internet showing an attempt to forcibly put a foreigner...
In the Issyk-Kul region, a suspect was detained for attempting to forcibly seize a foreign citizen. This became known from a report by the local internal affairs department. The incident attracted...
Alexander Kulbeda, the former head of the Ak-Kuduk rural council in the Issyk-Ata district of Chui region, passed away at the age of 66. This sad news was confirmed by the Ak-Kuduk rural council, as...
In the village of Issyk-Kul (Mayak), located in the Issyk-Kul ayil district of the Tyup region, an unusual natural phenomenon occurred, as reported by local residents. They associate this with the...
The opening of the winter season at the ski resort "Chungurchak" in the Alamidin district of the Chui region took place on December 28, with the participation of the presidential envoy...
- The Prosecutor's Office of the Jeti-Oguz District of the Issyk-Kul Region reported the return of land plots that were illegally transferred to private ownership. This was announced by the...
The authorities of Saint Petersburg expressed their readiness to share their experience in the digitalization of urban management with colleagues from Kyrgyzstan. This was reported by the press...
Maksat Korchiev, a 51-year-old resident of the village of Kerege-Tash in the Ak-Suu district, is currently a third-year student. As a father of four children, three of whom continue their education...
In the Chui and Issyk-Kul regions of Kyrgyzstan, rain is expected, which may turn into snow. In the capital, Bishkek, the temperature at night will be +1°, and during the day it will rise to +6°....
Accompanied by representatives of the youth charity organization SOS, the children enjoyed a specially designed entertainment program. The park offered them attractions, an ice rink, a meeting with...
Azizai Aibashova creates ribbons for yurts. She was born in 1980 and lives in the village of Korgon in the Leilek district of the Batken region. Since childhood, she has been passionate about the...
Alymbay and Meerim, residents of the city of Shopokov in the Chui region, are celebrating 25 years of married life, serving as an example for many. A Turmush correspondent spoke with Meerim...
At Issyk-Kul, drugs were found on three citizens, reported the regional police department. According to their information, on November 23, 2025, a statement was received at the police department of...
The village of Orgochor is located in the Jeti-Oguz district of the Issyk-Kul region. During the Soviet Union, the village was well-known because the villagers raised Kyrgyz fine-wool sheep....
In the Naryn region, in the village of Ak-Tal, the construction of a new two-story kindergarten has been completed, which is now ready for operation, reports Turmush correspondent. The opening of...
The correspondent of Turmush visited the place where the famous writer was born. Tügölbay Sydykbekov was born on May 14, 1912, in the village of Ken-Suu, located in the Tyup district of the Issyk-Kul...
In Kyrgyzstan, energy workers celebrated their professional holiday, dedicating it to caring for children in boarding schools and orphanages. Top managers of energy companies have once again brought...
A traffic accident involving domestic livestock occurred in the Issyk-Kul region. This was reported by eyewitnesses. “Yesterday, January 1, at 21:04, we witnessed a dangerous situation on the...
In the last 24 hours, 12 fire incidents have been recorded in Kyrgyzstan, with 14 fire teams deployed to extinguish them. According to the Ministry of Emergency Situations, there were three fires in...
The new heroine of the "Жеңеке" column is Manuela Sapintaeva, representing the Chuy region. She was awarded the title of "Super Kelin" at the "Shayir Jener" competition,...
According to Irina Grishechkina, the deputy director for project issues at the Institute of Advanced Urban Planning from St. Petersburg, the area of Bishkek is 41,081.3 hectares, of which almost a...
Dmitry Bivol won in court The Smolninsky District Court in St. Petersburg has issued a ruling requiring Ekaterina Bivol, the ex-wife of the famous boxer, to refute her accusations against him. This...
Today, the opening of 10 facilities took place in the Naryn region with the participation of President Sadyr Japarov in online mode. Among the opened facilities:...
The Minister of Natural Resources, Ecology, and Technical Supervision, Meder Mashiev, summarizes the results of 2025 in the field of ecology and subsoil use in Kyrgyzstan. In an interview with...
In the "Jubailar" section, today we will tell you about Khorlan Beksyrgaeva and Moldaly Adzhikulov, who live in the Sokuluk district of Chui region. Khorlan Beksyrgaeva's journey from...
In the village of Novoe, located near Kuntuu, there is a school named after Kaparov, which was converted from a dormitory based on the Finnish model and now accommodates 150 students. However,...
In the Issyk-Kul region, in the Jeti-Oguz district, an old mill has been preserved, as reported by a teacher from the village of Chon-Jargyldchak, Bolot Urkaliev, to a Turmush correspondent....
According to the press service of the Ministry of Economy and Commerce of the Kyrgyz Republic, the new concept aims to define strategic directions for the tourism industry, as well as to implement...
The rural administration of Issyk-Kul, part of the Tyup district, participated in the republican competition "Best Rural Administration" and won the grand prize in 2025. Throughout the...
The receded areas of the sea have formed sandy islands, and some boats have become stranded in shallow waters, as reported by the media. An astonishing natural phenomenon occurred in the...
In the "Our People Abroad" section, we present 38-year-old Kyrgyzstani Jypar Asyranova, who currently lives and works in Incheon, South Korea. Jypar, born on November 30, 1987, in Naryn,...
In the Issyk-Kul region, in the city of Karakol, news has emerged about the suicide of a 9th-grade student from one of the local schools, according to reports from sources. According to local...
Zholoman and Kümüş Konokbaev became the new heroes of the "Jubailar" column, having lived together for 55 years. For over 40 years, the couple worked at the same school and now enjoy their...
According to Kasymaliev, tourism in Kyrgyzstan is showing rapid development and is becoming an important sector of the economy. As part of an ambitious investment project, the construction of the...
In Bishkek, at the Toktogul Satylganov Kyrgyz National Philharmonic, the IV People's Kurultai is taking place with the participation of President Sadyr Japarov. There are 700 delegates from all...
On December 30, the leadership of the presidential representative office in the Jalal-Abad region held an online event to mark the opening of secondary school No. 27, named after Amankhan Mamyrов, in...
The hero of the new story from the "Our People Abroad" section is 23-year-old Sultanmurat Dyushebekov, born in the village of Saruu, located in the Jeti-Oguz district of the Issyk-Kul...
The highway Barskoon–Ak-Shiyrak in the Issyk-Kul region has been reopened for traffic. According to information provided by Turmush, Uluk Musan uulu, the head of road maintenance enterprise No. 3,...
In the "Our People Abroad" section, we present the story of 30-year-old Aigerim Dyushalieva, who has settled in Van, Turkey, with her family. She is a mother of two children. Early Years...
